Joat - Pacific Crest Trail Journal - 2013

Working thru Plantar Fasciitis

Two weeks ago my new ULA Circuit pack arrived and I was eager to test it out. I've been struggling to get my base pack weight down to less than 20# and this pack helps shave the better part of a pound from the REI Flash 65 I used on my section hikes last year. The Circuit appears to be very well made, with more robust material than the Flash 65. I also like the big pockets on the hip belt.

I quickly loaded-up the pack with max recommended load of 35# and gave it a test drive around the house. Very comfortable.

While I expect to honor the max pack weight most of the time, there are going to be some times when I expect to be carrying more weight than normal (i.e. extra food, bear cannister, ice axe and crampons from Kennedy Meadows to Sonora Pass and extra water in southern ca). Curiosity quickly got the best of me and I loaded-up the pack with 45# and headed for our local cardio hill (~350' with 50' elevation gain). After a dozen or so laps up and down the hill, I had convinced myself that the pack would work fine and headed back to the house.

Later that evening, i noticed some tenderness in the region of my left plantar fascia (just in front of the heal) and chastized myself for not properly stretching before doing the hill. I've since been doing vitamin I (Ibuprophiin) and massage to try and work thru the problem. It definitely feels like it's getting better, but not back to 100% yet. It probably isn't helping that I keep getting out, but we've had some fantastic weather and hard to stay indoors.

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